Location: 36° 13 S, 85° 28 E
Friday 12:00, 02.09.2007

At noon on February 9th, the Schooner Maggie B was at 36° 13 S, 85° 28 E. We are headed right for Fremantle at 8 to 12 knots. The variability on speed (10.2 knots is hull speed) depends where we are on the swells, which are now up to 10-12 feet — sometimes surfing, sometimes recovering. But nice long swells with no nasty habits. We are headed 120 degrees magnetic and the wind is pretty stabile at 20-25 from 270. The day now is mostly clear with just occasional rain showers (concentrated, as usual, on Hannah’s watch).

It looks as if we now “have our ride” to Fremantle (Freo). The weather forecast suggests that the wind will build to about 30 knots by midnight, and then back a bit more and settle in 15-20 from the south for at least several days (until the next front). At this speed, we are six or seven days to Freo. We have come 2938 NM from the Seychelles and have “just” 1522 NM to go.

The Maggie B is looking a little like a “hobo” boat. Some halyards are several lines spliced together, our sheets don’t match any more, and many have sheetbends holding them together. Many “working” parts of masts, gaffs and boom have “protection” glued on at one place or another. There are even some places with, gasp, duct tape, holding something on or together. We are not ready for a Concours d’Elegance. But we are ready for a nice week’s 1500 NM run to Freo! So many boats are like the Harley Davidson motorcycles that are polished and cherished and only drive two miles every other Sunday (and not if it is raining!) to the nearest Starbucks Cafe. Then you see the bike, maybe a BMW 1975 Boxer or Norton 750 with banged-up saddlebags and a variety of paint under the dust and dirt, down the street outside a bar with cold beer and good pizza. That’s the bike you want to take somewhere.

All is well.